Brushing into a vacuum works if the dust is lose. A modified fish
pump makes a great micro vacuum, as per instructions from CCI. In the
online class Museum Cleaning Basics, which starts next Monday at
museumclasses.org, Gretchen Anderson teaches a wide range of cleaning
methods that can be successfully used by the non-conservator. One of
these is how to build and use the modified fish pump.
Finally, the feathers' condition may affect how they should be cleaned.
For example, dust is one problem. But are they fragile from over
exposure to light or heat? Are they split? Are they primarily plumous?
(Ostrich feathers are more fragile to clean than snowy owl feathers, for
example). I have noted that light damage gives feathers a ragged look -
the barbules and edges break easily. This might affect cleaning choices.
Gretchen just returned from a Canadian workshop just on feathers, so she
would be great to discuss the problem with, too.
Best,
Helen Alten
On 07/14/2010 6:05 PM, Tina Campbell wrote:
Thank you for the information. I saw it with another e-mail.
Tina
--- On *Wed, 7/14/10, Ellen Pearlstein /<[email protected]>/* wrote:
From: Ellen Pearlstein <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: [pestlist] Cleaning of White Bird Feathers
To: [email protected]
Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 3:00 PM
I'm not sure this came through this morning!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [pestlist] Cleaning of White Bird Feathers
Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:02:57 -0700
Hi Tina,
In case you have access to a good library, I heartily recommend
the book Fur Trade Legacy (2005) Margot Brunn and Jim Burns, eds.,
Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property, where
there are excellent papers on feather cleaning methods. I am also
attaching an ICOM-CC Ethno Group Newsletter with a really well
illustrated article by Nancy Fonicello on feather cleaning.
By the way, UCLA Conservation and the Getty Conservation Institute
are collaborating on a study about color changes in undyed
featherwork, due either to light exposure, solvent contact,
mechanical contact, or other phenomena. Anyone reading this list
who has observed reactions such as those described---or the
opposite i.e. surprisingly excellent retention of color!---please
do send me a note!
Ellen Pearlstein
UCLA/Getty
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:04:27 -0700
From: [email protected]
Subject: [pestlist] Cleaning of White Bird Feathers
To: [email protected]
Hello Everyone,
Can anyone recommend a method or person on how to clean white
feathers from birds that are covered in years of dust?
Thank you,
Tina
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Helen I. Alten
Northern States Conservation Center
www.collectioncare.org
www.museumclasses.org
